In pictures: The occupation authorities confiscate parts of “Bab Al-Rahmeh” cemetery and the locals of Silwan confront them
The occupation authorities confiscated on Wednesday new parts of “Bab Al-Rahmeh” cemetery adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the locals of Silwan confronted them by removing the poles and wires that were placed.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center was informed that the Nature and Parks authority’s employees and workers raided the cemetery of Bab Al-Rahmeh and placed iron poles and added wires to wires placed last month in lands adjacent to the cemetery; note that the lands are owned by Hussein and Ansari families.
The occupation authorities claimed to have an order from the occupation’s court allowing them to work inside the cemetery but refused to show it which confirms and demonstrates that it is implementing a fait accompli and the seizure of land and property owned by Al-Awqaf in Jerusalem.
The Chairman of the Islamic cemeteries Committee, Mustafa Abu Zahra, said that the occupation authorities are placing wires along the eastern slope of the Mosque in Bab Al-Rahmeh cemetery to confiscate the empty lands available for dead Muslims and draw new borders for the cemetery and therefore turn the land into trails designated for settlers known as “National Parks trails”.
Abu Zahra added that the occupation confiscated lands that have graves.
The workers stepped on top of the graves and removed and cut trees inside the cemetery.
Local of Silwan confront the occupation authorities
In a related matter, the locals of Silwan gathered in Bab Al-Rahmeh cemetery (a big part of it allocated to bury their dead) and confronted the confiscation process and removed the poles and wires from the land and graves.
Witnesses added that large forces raided the cemetery and closed its entrances and prevented the locals from getting to it. Upon the arrival of the officer in charge, he ordered the Nature and Parks authority’s staff to stop their work in the area.
